Hyperthyroidism weight gain

Hyperthyroidism weight gain. Can hyperthyroidism cause weight gain?

Can hyperthyroidism cause weight gain?

Diet is usually a word, used for and by people who are overweight. This is not the case here though. People with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, usually don’t have these types of problems, I mean gaining weight. Quite the opposite- one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (induced to whatever reason) is the uncontrollable weight loss. People with hyperthyroidism are usually skinny, with high metabolism, increased appetite and overactive in general. Practically, they are almost always hungry. At least I was when I had hyperthyroidism. My colleagues at work were shocked how much food I can eat during my lunch break, but thought I am really lucky for not gaining weight at all. I did not have the same opinion, though, knowing how I feel.

Anyway, many hyperthyroidism patients recently report exactly the opposite- gaining weight. Hyperthyroidism weight gain is not so untypical today. It is logical to lose weight if you have hyperthyroidism, because the whole metabolism is accelerated and all the body processes speed up due to excessive release of thyroid hormone in the blood. Why then many people gain weight instead? Listen to this:

“Hi, just wanted to find out what do you think about weight gain. When I first found out that I had a hyperthyroid I weighed 120 lbs. Now, after about a year I can’t seem to loose any weight. I am up to 150 and I am sick of gaining more even though I work out like crazy. Doesn’t seem fair and I need some advice please!”

“I have steadily been gaining weight. I thought it was the beta-blockers I was on, so I greatly decreased how much I was taking. I still seem to be gaining weight and it is depressing. I’m tired all the time to begin with, but the weight gain is just too much to deal with on top of everything else. I’ve already suffered a miscarriage due to the hyperthyroidism and it’s taking forever to get any help.”

“Clearly, weight gain is a big problem for those who are hyper. I was diagnosed with Graves 3 years ago. My weight was stable until my methimazole (tapazole) was increased to 20 mg…then I gained 30 lbs in two months and have never been able to lose it (even started a three month low-cal, healthy diet and personal trainer-NOTHING came off!”

The traditional medicine keeps a silence on this question, as it cannot find any logical explanation. There are a few possible reasons for that phenomenon though:

The clinical picture of the hyperthyroidism condition has changed. Clinical picture pertains to the most typical symptoms, according which the medical authorities determine their diagnosis. For example, the classical clinical picture of celiac disease, which includes persistent diarrhea, has changed recently. Graves’ disease symptoms also can alternate; initially the patient can be diagnosed with certain symptoms that may change over time, become more or less severe, or new symptoms to be added and others to disappear.

It is well known that the appetite of hyperthyroid patients increase dramatically and they eat more than usual. The problem is with the content and the quality of the consumed foods. If a decade ago the foods were not so genetically modified and very close to “natural” or “organic” they can be easily discharged from the body, due to the increased metabolism. But in the past years it is well known that we consume foods that have no nutrients and are genetically modified; they also contain a lot of processed sugars and artificial coloring. The body, unrecognizing these materials as food, may stock them, as it does with the aspartame. They are stored in the body, regardless of the increased metabolism. This may dramatically cloud the clinical picture of hyperthyroidism and many people may remain undiagnosed.

Medication: patients who are treated with medication (PTU or Methimazole), but still reported and considered hyperthyroid, may be affected with this symptom because pretty much any anti-thyroid medication slows down the metabolism and blocks the thyroid hormone production. To some crazy reason some doctors will keep their patients on anti-thyroid medication regardless of the fact that their thyroid tests are reading “normal” or even “hypo”. Probably just in case??

Hyperthyroidism can increase cortisol levels and make you gain weight, and this is another possible explanation, but if this is true, nobody can tell.

Regardless of the reason, these are my short and simple suggestions to control your weight:

Or even better….This is the new, just updated version as of August, 2013 of my book “Ultimate Diet Secrets for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism”, with the newest information on the diet field, why gluten free diet, or carbohydrate diet, or probiotics are good for your health; new herbs that I discovered, found to be helpful for hyperthyroidism and some new ideas for dealing with this disease:

Thyroid Assisting Products

Testimonials

Svetla,

Thanks. I am from Colombia-Costa Rica and never got sick before. Now I understand why- but is in the past and now after I found your web I started to feel much better. Please keep sending me info. I have the manual and doing everything.Laura, Costa Rica

Hello Svetla Bankova,

Thank you for you excellent research result &your your advice. I would like to know the treatment of thyrocardiac disease & its prognosis in detail as well.Hailemariam Tafes,, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

Dear Svetla,

Thank you, I love the list! I've been working less and laying low, it was my natural inclination when I realized something was wrong. I feel the need to tend to myself and relax! I've been decluttering my house, my life & my desk at work! Also, I've been wanting to paint a picture and will start soon. I DON'T want to shop for the holidays, so I think I'll make some special food items for the people I love! Thank you again!Bonnie, Stony Brook, United States

Dearest Svetla,
Thank you so very very much, for all your help. It has been so very useful! It is great to know that I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE! I must say my life has been so very very very stressful, and in fact I don't take stress well at all. I must now learn, that I cannot please everyone and must now think of myself. I do not have a big problem with heart racing, etc. but sleep deprivation is a big problem. I will carry on with your herbal suggestions. I will keep you updated, as I go along.

My best wishes for Christmas to you and your family. God Bless you.Lynn, South Africa